I do not consider myself an expert on sport optics, I reserve that moniker for guys like Terry Howell at The Outdoorsmans and Chris Denham of Western Hunter Magazine.  However, I have learned a great deal over the past year and a half by evaluating most of the top brands and models of binoculars and spotting scopes.  What has really made the difference for me is the ability to mount two, three, or four models on tripods, sit down on a Walkstool and arrange them in front of me so I can easily go from one to the other and back for hours at a time.  If you are looking for the best optics side by side comparisons are really the only way to judge differences in picture/image characteristics and ease of use.

Two big things stand out to me.  First, like boots, glass that works very well for one person may not work at all for someone else because eyes, facial structure and tastes vary widely.  However, there are distinct classes or groups of glass.  I use the term "tier" and grade the very best as tier 1.  I don't waste time with anything below tier 3 and don't think that you should either.  Second, the quality and performance that is currently available on the market is simply outstanding and the price you pay for world class glass is trending downward.  It is so good, in fact, I don’t think that the glass can get much better.  My prediction is that advances in future lines will be in the form of the top technology continuing to be more affordable, integrated features like laser rangefinders and digital cameras, variable magnification capability and lighter materials.

You will notice a couple of things here that you may or not agree with but it is my list so I get to do what I want.  I don't think that you can effectively hand hold anything bigger than 8x for very long so I don't list any 10x42 binoculars.  If you are going to use a 10 power for anything other than a truck/quad/Ranger glass then it should be on a tripod so you might as well use a 50 or 56mm objective.  Also, I am convinced that The Outdoorsmans makes the best tripod adapter system on the market so I tend to favor only binoculars and other optics that accept it.  Fortunately most of the good glass is compatible.  The exceptions are low power binoculars that I intend to use just for neck glass like the Zeiss 7x42 FLs which do not accept The Outdoorsmans system.  Note to Zeiss, if y'all would get with the program and join the club there would probably be more Zeiss binos on this list.    

Here is the list of optics, except rifle scopes, that I am recommending.  It will be revised as necessary.  As far as where to get them, product knowledge and customer service is uber important so I refer everyone to The Outdoorsmans in Phoenix.  It is the best gittin’ place I know of for great optics, tripods, heads and accessories.  Period.  And just for the record, I don’t get paid for sending you to them.

RANGEFINDERS
Leica Rangemaster CRF 1200 Compact
Swarovski LG-1 8x30

MONOCULARS
Zeiss Conquest MiniQuick 5x10 T-super duper light and handy to carry

BINOCULARS
Vortex 6x32 Viper-second tier glass, great for around the neck
Zeiss Victory 7x42 FL LT-first tier glass, very good for around the neck
Swarovski 8x20 Compact-great little glasses when you need something small
Nikon 8x42 Monarch ATB-third tier glass, good all around, inexpensive 
Nikon 8x42 EDG-first tier glass
Pentax 8x43 DCF ED-second tier glass
Swarovski 8.5x42 EL-first tier glass, if I could only have one, these are it
Vortex 8.5x50 Razor-second tier glass, great for low light surveillance
Nikon 8x56 Monarch ATB-third tier glass, good all around, inexpensive
Leica 10x50 HD Ultravid-first tier glass 
Nikon 10x56 Monarch ATB-third tier glass, good all around, inexpensive
Nikon 12x56 Monarch ATB-third tier glass, good all around, inexpensive
Swarovski 15x56 SLC-first tier glass
Zeiss 15x60 Classic B GAT (no longer made)-first tier glass, maybe the most comfortable high power glasses to use in the field for long periods of time ever made
Kowa High Lander Fluorite w/ 32x  or 50x Wide Angle eyepieces-best long range

SPOTTING SCOPES
Leupold Golden Ring 12-40x60 HD-light, compact, big eyepiece, reasonably priced 
Swarovski STM-65 HD with the 25-50 Wide eyepiece-best spotter for the weight
Kowa TSN-884 Straight Fluorite with the 20-60 eyepiece-best image  

CAMERAS
Olympus Stylus 850SW (shock and waterproof digital 8.0 megapixel)
Panasonic SDR-H18 (Hard Disk Drive/SD card video and 32x optical zoom)
Flip UltraHD (made for uploading video to the web)
Minox DCM 5.0 (for Digiscoping)

NIGHT VISION
ITT AN/PVS-14 (mil spec, third generation)

OPTICS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION
Swarovski EL Swarovision 10x42 binoculars (new with HD glass and field flattening)
Zen Ray ED 7x36 binoculars
Zen Ray ED 8x43 binoculars
Minox APO HG 8.5x43
Canon SX1S (DSLR)
Meopta Meostar 8x42

Thanks.

Wade Nelson
Editor

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.